World

A Kelowna resident who now lives in Trinidad and Tobago felt a 7.3 earthquake rumble through her home on Tuesday.

The woman tells Castanet News it was pretty strong and broke a whole bunch of stuff.

UPDATE: 3:25 p.m.

A witness in Cumana, one of the biggest cities near the epicenter, said there were initial reports of several injuries at a shopping centre where an escalator fell, but that there were no other immediate signs of damage in the vicinity.

John Boquett, a firefighter captain in Caracas, said there were no initial reports of injuries or major damage in the capital.

The quake was felt as far away as Colombia's capital of Bogota, and in Caracas office workers and residents fled from their buildings and homes. The confusing moments after the quake were captured on state television as Diosdado Cabello, the head of the all-powerful constitutional assembly, was delivering a speech at a march.

"Quake!" people yelled as Cabello and others looked from side to side.

ORIGINAL: 3:15 p.m.

A powerful earthquake has shaken eastern Venezuela, causing buildings to be evacuated in the capital of Caracas.

The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude of Tuesday's quake at 7.3 and said it had a depth of 76 miles (123 kilometres). Its epicenter was 12 miles (20 km) northwest of Yaguaraparo, Venezuela.

The quake was felt as far away as Colombia's capital and in the Venezuelan capital office workers evacuated buildings and people fled homes.